What’s Your Game-Changer?

Today we welcome Galen Pearl as our guest author! You’ve seen Galen around Life, for instance, contributing thoughtful comments to the conversation. Galen blogs regularly at her place, here! Treat yourself to a visit! Okay then, take it away Galen!

Although many game-changers occurred in my role as a parent, the one that comes to mind right now occurred in my professional life. Early in my career, when I was working in the legal department of a big company, I passed the General Counsel in the hallway. In what appeared to be a spontaneous thought, he asked me if I was working on a big project right then. I wasn’t. He asked me if I would like to do some international work. Although I had absolutely no experience or training that would qualify me, I said, “Sure.”

That was it. A moment in the hallway. I’m pretty sure he would have asked whatever lawyer was passing by at that moment. It happened to be me. It didn’t seem momentous at the time, but that moment led to the next 30 years of a career that took me to many countries to negotiate contracts, and led to living overseas on three continents. When I came back to the US, my experience landed me a job teaching, where I stayed until I retired last year. Indeed, my professional life was so fulfilling and exciting that I often exclaimed, AI can’t believe someone is paying me to have this much fun!

I often think back to that moment in the hallway. I’m so glad I was the one walking by, and I’m so glad that on a whim of completely unwarranted confidence, I said yes.

Are there any moments in your personal or professional life that you can think back to that didn’t seem important at the time, but in retrospect were game-changers for you?